Chapter 38
Broken
"I'm glad the storm is letting up. It was a struggle getting here."
Korra stared out the window as lone droplets struck the glass. "Where do you go when I'm in my sessions?"
Asami shrugged. "It depends on the day, I guess. Sometimes, I sit in the waiting room for a while with a book. Other times, I'll just run some errands or go to the Park for a while…"
"What did you do today?"
The engineer eyed her passenger before returning her focus to the road. "I just went for a drive today. I wanted to clear my head."
"Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"
The Satomobile stopped at a red light. "Not really. Why?"
"I was just…" Korra considered her request for a moment, but dropped it, deciding it might be better that Asami didn't know. "…wondering, that's all."
She took a better look at the exhausted Water Tribe girl. The rings under her blue eyes were darker than when she dropped the brunette off. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just tired. Can we go to your place tonight? It's been a long week, and your couch is a lot comfier than my bed."
"Of course we can."
The green light signaled their motion. Asami maneuvered the Satomobile with one hand while the other commanded the stick shift.
"Korra, I want you to know that, well…" The heiress struggled for control. She hated seeing Korra like this, seeing her down and beaten, seeing her almost… broken. She wanted nothing more than to help, whatever and however she could. Asami took a breath. "I want you to know that I'm here for you, if you want to talk… or anything."
Another red beam forced her to stop. A somewhat-warm palm covered the back of her hand. She turned her head and locked onto the blue eyes beside her.
"Thank-you, Asami." Korra smile and squeezed the pale hand under hers.
The raven returned the expression, her face just as soft. She caressed Korra's unwrapped fingers with her thumb.
A loud honk interrupted their dazed stares. Asami glared at the driver in the Cabbage Car behind her through the rearview mirror. She revved the engine of her Satomobile and sped away with impeccable handling, splashing a large amount of water onto the windshield of her interrupter.
Korra twisted her torso to see the face of the man reddening with anger. His frustration hindered him into another red light, his vehicle facing the same beeping fate. She couldn't help but laugh.
Asami smiled at the sound of Korra's laughter as they continued the drive back to her apartment.
(-)
The rain had let up by the time they reached the parking garage. The sun was setting, and even the disappearance of the gray clouds could not stop the sky from darkening. Asami parked the Satomobile with ease, despite the Water Tribe girl asleep on her shoulder. Their hands were still intertwined on the gear shifter. She took in the woman beside her, beautiful in her simplicity. A small amount of light crept into the vehicle and made her tan skin glow. Her face was completely healed, with the exception of a thin line across her left cheek. Though it was barely visible in her position, the portion she could see told her that it would be a permanent scar. She traced down Korra's body. Her left wrist still had a bandage wrapped around it for support. Her right was free of any restraint and sat in her lap. Her foot had a brace, though this one was not as bulky.
She looks so peaceful.
Asami found it difficult to wake the girl. She caught herself letting the minutes slip by, wishing that she could sit like this until she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore.
But why?
She shook her head. "This isn't the time."
Korra shifted. "Isn't the time – for what?" She grumbled, still half-asleep. The Southerner nuzzled into the nook between Asami's neck and shoulder.
The engineer sighed and tried to force her blush away. "Nothing." She turned her right hand so that her palm faced Korra's. The brunette tangled her fingers with the driver's and squeezed them in her drowsy state.
Just a few more minutes.
It's getting dark.
So?
So, what if they come back?
The opposing voice scoffed. Are you telling me Asami Sato is afraid of some drunk baboon monkeys?
I'm not afraid of them.
Then what is it? The multi-martial artist can't take them on?
Of course I can!
Then what is it?
Asami glanced at the slumbering girl beside her.
She can't. Not when she's like this.
Like what?
She struggled for words. When she's, she's… hurt. She's too injured to fight.
There's something else.
There's nothing else.
No, there's something. I know there is. You don't think she's a good fighter, do you? You're not always going to be around to break noses and skulls for her, you know.
They got me just the same as they got her.
So you are afraid.
No, I'm not.
Korra stirred beside her. Asami could feel her warm breath against her pale neck. She shivered and closed her eyes. Heat rushed through her core, heading south.
You want to protect her. I get it. But instead of being a body guard, be a teacher. Train her. Get your ass moving for now, be her protector, but when she's better, show her some better moves, just like your instructors did for you.
"That… that's actually a good idea."
"What's a good idea?" Korra muttered, adjusting herself against the engineer so that their bodies touched even more.
I really need to stop thinking out loud.
"Oh, nothing." Asami inhaled to steady herself, too focused on the feeling of Korra beside her to have any more internal arguments. She bit her lip and tightened her grip on the younger woman's hand for a final time, hating herself for having to move. "We should get going to my apartment, Korra."
"What?" She sat up, rubbing her eye with a free hand. "Are we here? Did I fall asleep again?"
Asami smiled. "Yes, but that's quite alright. Come on, it's getting dark, and it's a bit of a walk from the parking garage."
The Water Tribe girl straightened herself more, pulling her palm away from the engineer's. She looked out the window to the half-blocked view of the orange sky, signaling the setting sun. "Yeah, you're right." She let out a mighty yawn and stretched her arms. "Let's go."
The raven chuckled and exited the Satomobile. She helped her friend from the vehicle and acted as a crutch for her right leg. Though her ankle was healed enough for the brunette to walk on her own, the younger woman was much too tired to achieve such a feat.
Korra wrapped her right arm around the taller woman's shoulders, despite the height difference. When a pale hand found her left hip, she covered it with her wrapped palm and smiled.
Their eyes locked for a moment, the light of the disappearing sun reflecting off their irises. The darkening sky above them pulled their attention away.
"Come on, we should go."
(-)
'Korra.'
'Korra.'
She looked around the darkness. "Who are you?"
'Korra.'
"Yes, I'm here. Now, who are you? You were never here before."
Silence.
"You were never here before!" She collapsed onto her knees and buried her hands into her hair. "Why can't I remember?"
'Korra.'
She opened her eyes to find herself in a Healer's hut. The fires were bright upon initial sight. She groaned from the sensation. Korra tried to move her limbs, but they were restrained with straps. Sweat pooled on her skin from the many furs covering her.
"Korra? Korra, my baby!" A woman's arms gripped her torso. Tears hit her neck. "You're alive. You're alive."
"Mom?"
Senna rocked her daughter as much as she could. She departed from the hug and ran a hand into Korra's loose hair. "We were so worried about you. You've been unconscious for days." She embraced her child once more. "Korra, my baby…" She locked onto the teen's pupils.
Korra could see the strain in her mother's bloodshot eyes.
How long has she been crying?
"I'm okay, mom. I'm okay."
"Korra!"
The booming voice was just enough of a warning to prepare her for the strong arms to come. She braced herself for her father's powerful hug. "Dad."
"You're awake." He pulled away and cradled her jaw. "You're alive."
"Mom, Korra's awake!" An older woman's voice rang in her ears.
"Yes, Kya, she certainly is." She heard a creak from the corner as the elder rose from her chair.
Korra angled her head so that she could see the Water Bending Masters. Katara had her hand on her daughter's shoulder before she turned to the teen herself.
"If I could have a moment alone with Korra; I'd like to check the state of her body now that she's with us again."
"Of course. Come on, Tonraq." Senna pulled her husband away, though neither of them wanted to leave.
"You, too, Kya."
"But, mom –"
Katara walked over to the restrained child and untied the straps. "Just for a few minutes, Kya. Don't worry." Her eyes met her daughter's with a smile.
"Alright, mom. Just – let me know if you need help."
"Thank-you, darling." Katara continued freeing Korra as Kya slipped out of the room.
"How are you feeling, Korra?"
The teen rubbed her head now that her arms were mobile. "Weird."
"Weird?"
"Yeah. My head hurts. And I'm really warm."
Katara chuckled. "That would be all of these." She lifted several furs off of the younger woman.
"That feels a lot better. Thanks." Korra struggled into an upright position.
"Easy there. You've been gone for a long time."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?"
"You tell me." Katara walked away with the pelts in her arms. She plopped them into a corner of the room and tidied them.
"I… I don't understand, Master Katara."
"You almost died, Korra. Your entire body was shutting down."
Korra dropped her gaze and fidgeted with her hands. She remained silent.
"I helped bring you back. Your organs nearly stopped working, but Kya and I were able to heal them before that could happen."
Korra pulled herself to her feet. "I owe you my life, Master Ka –" She collapsed to her hands and knees before she could finish her sentence.
Katara rushed over to the teen. "Easy, child. Your body is just now waking up."
"Sorry." She tried to crawl back to the bed, but the elder held her still.
"Stay there for now. I just want to check you over." Katara Bent some water from the Healing Tub nearby. She moved the liquid across Korra's body with a grace no one could replicate. She started at her limbs and inched to her center, eyes closed for the entirety of the process.
Korra shut her lids as well. The water felt calm against her, like her body had been sleeping for years and years in one compacted power nap. The relaxation in her mind was replaced with abrupt pain when Katara reached her back. A sharp jolt quaked up her spine and through her nerves. She was back in the cold again, swimming through the water, digging through the snow, shaking.
'Korra.'
'Korra.'
Everything shifted to black. She was eighteen again, her arms wrapped around herself in a quivering heap as she was before. She gasped for breath and found none.
'Korra.'
I can't –
'Korra.'
Breathe.
A sensation of falling filled her. She plummeted downwards, through what felt like miles of darkness. With a crash, she jumped awake, sweat covering every inch of her body. She fell from the couch and panted on her hands and knees, elbows shaking.
"There – there was never a voice…"